SATSUMA, La. – Livingston Parish Public School officials introduced its newest effort in creating greater access to learning technologies today (Oct. 10) during its principals’ meeting, when is rolled out its STEAM Express – a mobile classroom designed to take learning opportunities to community neighborhoods.

The STEAM Express, which will be focused on introducing science, technology, engineering, arts and math concepts to students, is the brainchild of the district’s Instructional Technology department that was made possible by community sponsors who paid to retrofit a bus into the mobile classroom.

“We live in a wonderful community, where people care about our children and are willing to invest in their well-being and their future,” said Assistant Superintendent Joe Murphy.

He noted that the STEAM Express, which has been decorated to take the appearance of a steam locomotive, including a working steam whistle, will be equipped with Wi-Fi, touch screen monitors and laptops, and hands-on, interactive modules to help students learn a variety of subjects. The flexible design allows educators to easily transition the bus set up from elementary-level activities to high school-level projects.

“The idea behind this mobile classroom project is to bring STEAM-based education to the schools and into our neighborhoods to help students and to give them an experience with STEAM education that they might not otherwise have an opportunity to be exposed to,” Superintendent Rick Wentzel said. “The bus is adaptable to a variety of projects and all age groups.”

Murphy said the STEAM Express will make its public debut on Thursday, Oct. 11, at the Livingston Parish Fair. The mobile classroom will be set up outside the fairgrounds’ exhibition hall from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Oct. 11, which is the day designated by fair organizers for parish schools and their various clubs and organizations to set up displays in the Exhibition Hall.

He also said the district will sponsor training workshops for volunteers and school personnel who want to work with students on the STEAM Express on Oct. 25-26. Two training sessions will be held both days – one from 8:30 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. and second from 12:30 p.m. to 3:30 p.m.

Instructional Technology
Facilitators Lynn Kennedy (left) and Nikki Lavergne (right) give Southside
Junior High Principal Wes Partin a tour of the many learning games and
instructional tools that will be made available to students on the district’s
new mobile classroom, the STEAM Express.

Instructional Technology Facilitator Lynn Kennedy shows Freshwater Elementary Principal Julie Dugas how to operate a technology game that teaches computer coding to students. The technology game is one of several that will be made available to students on the STEAM Express.

Assistant Superintendent Joe Murphy, right, is pictured with some of the community leaders and business owners who gave monetary donations to the district to pay for the creation of the STEAM Express. The funding paid for the retrofitting of a school bus into the mobile classroom, which can now be used to take technology learning activities into communities throughout the parish. Pictured, from left: (back row) Livingston Parish Assessor Jeff Taylor, Graphic Designer Keith Stark, Livingston Parish Sheriff Jason Ard, (front row) Livingston Parish President Layton Ricks, and Greater Baton Rouge Board of Realtors - Council of Livingston Parish Members Kayla Johnson, Kristen Goodwin and Brooke Johnson.

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Notice of Discrimination

The Livingston Parish School Board does not discriminate on the basis of age, race, religion, national origin, disability or gender in its educational programs and activities (including employment and application for employment), and it is prohibited from discriminating on the basis of gender by Title IX (20 USC 168) and on the basis of disability by Section 504 (42 USC 794). The Title IX Coordinator is Stephen Parrill